Tuesday, January 28, 2020

What are The Benefits of Process Writing

What are The Benefits of Process Writing The writing process is an amazingly productive, constructive, and effective method of writing. This method is undeniably the best method in order to help a writer reach their full potential. The writing process is undeniable because anybody who has used this process has realized the benefits. The process is simple and only requires patience, revision, and the willingness to better ones work. It involves prewriting, revising and rewriting your work if necessary in order to ultimately achieve the best writing you are capable of. We almost never write to the absolute best of our ability on the first draft; which is why the writing process proves to be so successful. Process writing utilizes careful revision and rewriting techniques to effectively help writers compose their ideas into clear, concise, and well thought out statements that represent their style and passion for the subject. Any modern day writer should be familiar with this process because it is necessary to achieve quality writing. Many theorists and writers have written books on writing as a process and almost anyone who has tried the process would agree that it does in fact work. Initially, the first thing a writer should do to completely prepare themselves for the task at hand is organize their ideas. They should take the time to formulate a main theme or point which they are trying to convey as well as possibly do some prewriting activities such as brainstorming, drafting an outline, or free writing. This step is referred to as prewriting in the writing process and can be extremely useful to a writer that is trying to figure out their main idea or focus of the paper. Prewriting can be as simple as just writing your ideas out onto paper; it is important to remember to just keep writing and not to over analyze anything at this step in the process. The idea is just to get all your thoughts out onto paper so the best possible ideas can be formulated into a well written cohesive document. After prewriting has been completed the writer can now comprise a first draft. This draft can then be revised and possibly critiqued by other people as well as yourself. Revisi on is an essential part of the writing process because it gives the writer the chance view their paper threw someone elses eyes. It allows for criticism and discussion which eventually make the writing more powerful and meaningful. Since the writing process allows for revision over time the writers work transforms into something that is very well thought out and written much better than their first draft. After revision, comes probably one of the most challenging steps in the writing process which is known as rewriting (Flower). Donald Murray once said writing is rewriting (Murray). This short statement is as true today as it ever was. In order to create something that is well written you must write and then re write your thoughts which ultimately makes them well thought out and meaningful. Rewriting is such an imperative part of the writing process which is why Murray feels rewriting is just as important as writing the initial draft (Murray). The rewriting step in the process helps the writer narrow down their initial statements into what they truly want to say. Good writing or good English as described by William Zinsser is often the outcome of this step in the writing process. Writers often further relate to the audience as a result of this step by fabricating their ideas into something that most people can relate to and understand. Using common words that everybody can relate to can really help your reader feel connected or associated with the content they are reading. Ordinary everyday sentences are oft en clear, concise, and brief. These ordinary sentences push the writing forward by making the reader ask more questions about what is going to happen next. In order to write good English a writer must cease the use of unnecessary language and keep their sentences short, simple, and to the point so the reader can truly understand and relate to the content (Zinsser). Even though this may seem like the end of the process you should really repeat the revision and rewriting steps a few times in order to achieve the best possible results. Many writers including myself have seen the writing process work over and over again. I have seen the benefits of the writing process in my own writings many times. Every time I write something and just hand it in without any type of revision I always notice I could have written it much better if I had simply read through it and revised it. Also, whenever I do have the chance to get a peer revision on my writing I always notice that the final product is undoubtedly much better than the first draft. Sometimes I only want to write a single draft because I procrastinate until the last minute and dont have time for the writing process. If this is the case my final draft usually suffers in quality. Often times my lack of revision isnt hard to miss because the final draft usually ends up littered with typos or incoherent run on statements. If I had simply revised my work once the quality would have greatly increased. The writing process is also very important for students learning to write because it gives them the chance to critique and discuss their own writings as well a s other students writings in the class. Ultimately, one of the real reasons most people write is because they can not only speak out and express themselves to the world but they may also influence others with their ideas. There are so many great things a person can do with the power of word. Whether it is to persuade, inform, narrate, or inspire, good writing is something that can be appreciated by all and is a very powerful tool. If you aspire to write well then using the writing process correctly is something that must be on your top priority. After all, a well thought out meaningful sentence is a weapon of great power in our literary world.

Monday, January 20, 2020

The Old Man and the Sea :: Essays Papers

The Old Man and the Sea The Old Man and the Sea Hemmingway, Earnest FVL Library 138 pp. The main theme of Hemmingway's The Old Man and the Sea, is not an easy one to pick out. At first glance the book seems to simply be a story about a guy who goes out and battles with a fish. However, there has to be some underling theme. It could be the relationship between a boy and a man, and how both are treated by nature. This is illustrated by the boy's parents not allowing him to continue with the unlucky old man. It is also shown by the success the boy had and the failure the old man experienced after their parting. Still through all of this the boy remembers how well the old man treated him and does everything he can for the old man. On the whole, I liked this book. It was written in relatively easy to follow language, yet Hemmingway was still able to convey unbelievable images of picturesque settings in the reader's mind. There is also an interesting use of dialog, not only between the boy and the old man, but es pecially with the old man talking to himself. This is something I really haven't seen used that extensively. I think Hemmingway used this to fill in the parts of the story where the old man is simply at a stalemate with the fish, when he is just sitting there being pulled around the ocean. The one thing I didn't understand about this one sided conversation was the constant reference to Joe DiMaggio. I don't know if this was simply a tribute to a great ball player, or some kind of historical reference that I just didn't get. The pace and general flow of the story was good. There were a few times during the struggle where the action all but disappeared, but on the whole there was almost always something happening. The plot was also pretty simple and easy to follow. Another quality of this book which I have seen in others I have previously read was the complete lack of a male-female love subplot. As I have said before, this often times just messes things up. In this case the only love affair was between the old man and fishing. However I would not say there was love between the old man and the fish.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Life is what you make it Essay

A little boy called Andy was asked to audition with his classmates for a part in the school play. His mother knew that he had his heart set on being in the play and she was worried about how he would react if he wasn’t chosen. On the day that the parts were given out, Andy’s mother went to the school to collect him feeling anxious about the outcome. Seeing his mother Andy rushed up to her, his eyes were shining with pride and excitement. â€Å"Guess what Mum,† he shouted, and then said the words that can provide a lesson to us all, â€Å"I’ve been chosen to clap and cheer.† Understanding and knowing that you are so much more in control of your lives than you sometimes believe is not only reassuring, it is empowering. The way that you think determines the way that you feel and is the control pad for the volume of happiness that you can experience. The quality of your thinking essentially determines the quality of your life. Think about this †¦. Did you know that you have 60 – 80,000 thoughts a day ? Yesterday I had a thought. That thought became an emotion That emotion turned into words, the words fuelled action, The actions became a habit. My habits are my Character, My Character defines my destiny. Today, therefore, I’ll think about my thoughts a little more. The power of positive thinking Thinking positively is not about putting your head in the sand, nor is it  about being unrealistic. By developing a positive attitude you still recognise the negative aspects of a situation, however you choose to focus on the hope and opportunity that is available. This approach helps you to avoid getting locked into a paralysing loop of bad feeling and allows you to move on quickly and take action to solve problems and embrace life’s challenges of which we inevitably experience. This quote says it all! â€Å"Whether you are an optimist or a pessimist might not affect the outcome, it’s just that the optimist has a better time in life!† James Borg – Mindpower The term â€Å"PMA† is all about having a positive mental attitude. Many books about personal success or self-improvement start with a sharp focus on cultivating energy, enthusiasm and optimism in all areas of your life.. Developing a positive attitude is the key to health and happiness. Sustaining a positive attitude Creating and maintaining a positive attitude is the most efficient and low-cost investment you can make in order to improve your life. A positive way of thinking is a habit and needs to be learned through repetition and conscious effort on your part. Positive affirmations to condition your mind can be very useful. Saying things to yourself like: I am an optimistic, hopeful, positive thinking person. Yes I accept that bad things can happen in my life, however I choose to look for positive opportunities and outcomes in every situation. A positive attitude is not dependent upon your genetic composition even if you are pre-disposed to negative thinking you can learn to move your thinking to the positive side. This depends entirely upon you and how you choose to think. How to be more positive about your life Avoid negative attitude germs Let me ask you a question. If you had a really bad cold or flu would you walk over to someone and sneeze in their face? Hopefully not!  So let me ask you another question. Have you ever had a bad day when someone or something has annoyed or upset you and you have felt the need to get it off your chest and have a good old moan to someone about it? I am sure that we have all been guilty of that from time to time. You are, in effect, spreading your NAGs – Negative Attitude Germs. You may have noticed that when you are with someone who is suffering from a physical or emotional problem, you feel bad too. It’s often described as catching their emotion. Researchers have observed this actually happening in real time in the brain, using an advanced MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine. It shows the brain of Person A reflects activity in the same area as Person B when they are in close proximity. The scientific term for this is neural mirroring. This does, therefore, point out the danger of hanging around negative, pessimistic people if you prefer to be positive and optimistic. Choose to be a radiator Some people you meet are like drains: negative, listless doom goblins and when we come into contact with them they drain us of energy. They like to tell you about all their negative news and prefer to play the victim, wallowing in the â€Å"poor me† mentality. These are the people who when you ask them how they are they will respond with their shoulders slumped, eyelids drooped â€Å"Well you know †¦ I feel really †¦ bad!† and then they will give you a graphic blow by blow account of all their woes and feelings of impending  doom! You may well know people like this. Perhaps it is a behaviour you indulge in? Perhaps we all do from time to time however does it really do us any favours? Other people, however, are like radiators – full of warmth and vitality. We feel positively energised by them. They appear bright and radiant, look you in the eye and when you ask them how they are, they smile and tell you something positive. It is amazing how some people are so intent on being negative. I wonder whether they get up some days and plan to go into work to â€Å"drain the radiators†! You may well know people like this. It might even be a behaviour that you indulge in yourself. If so, next time you find yourself doing this ask yourself how you will positively benefit from actively choosing this mind set. Take personal responsibility The antidote for negativity is that you learn to accept responsibility for your situation. The very act of taking responsibility cancels out any negative emotion that you may trigger. By embracing responsibility you will reap many rewards. The successes brought by this attitude acts as a foundation for selfrespect, pride and confidence. Responsibility breeds competence and personal power. By living up to your promises and obligations, you will win the trust of others. Once you are seen as trustworthy, people will willingly work with you and want to be with you. Making excuses can put the brakes on our progress, while accepting responsibility can lead us more towards succeed. It can be easy to blame others or circumstances for everything in our lives – past, present or future. It lets us off the hook to some degree. However, ultimately it doesn’t help us because we become a prisoner of circumstance and allow everything and everyone around us to dictate our world. Positively learn from mistakes Making mistakes is human and we can’t get everything right all the time. To increase your rate of success you will have to be willing to accept that you will make mistakes along the way, the skill is that you positively learn from them. Certainly some of the best learning and character building experiences I have been through are on the back of mistakes. Mistakes are the portals of discovery James Joyce Putting your hand in the air and saying â€Å"yes I recognise I made a mistake or I am responsible for that and this is what I am going to do to improve the situation† is actually quite liberating.  For example admitting when we get something wrong and saying I’m sorry can relieve a great deal of tension in any relationship. Humble pie can actually taste quite nice! It isn’t poisonous. It is a real skill to be brave enough to admit when you don’t get something right and have the humility to accept it, admit and then positively move on. Just because you mistakes it doesn’t make you a lesser person or inferior to others. Also if you never make mistakes, how do you learn? No-one can make you feel inferior without your consent Life can be an interesting and challenging journey and granted you may well get a little travel sick along the way and you may even hit a few pot holes. However, by developing a positive attitude you will be much better equipped to be able to deal with everything so much better. It takes practise and  certainly there will be days when you really struggle to see the sun for the clouds. You may even decide you want to wallow a little and that is ok. The question though, is for how long? Life is what you make it and what makes your life worth living is your own personal voyage of discovery. We are all people in progress with so much undiscovered potential. How exciting and wonderful is that? Life is what you make it – Top Tips The first step to happiness is to make a conscious decision to be happy Choose to be an optimist not a pessimist Actively seek out opportunities instead of problems Think more consciously about what you think about Address any negative attitude germs that you may be spreading Choose to be a radiator not a drain Avoid blaming other people Learn from your mistakes and positively move on Take personal responsibility for all your actions Remember this is your life and your life is what you make it About the author Liggy Webb is widely respected as a leading expert in the field of Modern Life Skills. As a presenter, consultant and author she is passionate about her work and helping to improve the quality of people’s lives. Her new book How to be Happy (Published by Capstone) is due out in August 2012. It will be available on Amazon and in all book stores. Email info@liggywebb.com to order a first edition signed copy. This makes an ideal gift and can be gift wrapped if requested at no extra charge. Liggy Webb explains how we can achieve a happier and more positive life and  backs up her theory with some great evidence and advice. Paul O’Neill, Vice President, Guinness World Records Commercial This is a life enhancing book that will undoubtedly bring greater and longer lasting happiness to every reader’ Richard Denny, International Business Growth Specialist, Speaker and Author

Friday, January 3, 2020

The Holocaust Survivor - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1794 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2019/04/26 Category History Essay Level High school Tags: Holocaust Essay Did you like this example? Even in his old age, Vladek still does his best to take care of himself as he pedals on his bike. This tendency was hard-wired into him during his time in the concentration camps: only the fit and the strong survived as they were valued over those who were weak and sick. Artie has clearly talked about chronicling Vladeks life during the war before, and Vladek suggests he sticks to what he is good at instead, apparently reluctant to reopen old wounds. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Holocaust Survivor" essay for you Create order In the fifth panel of the page, Vladeks prisoner number can be seen: one of the few remaining tangible reminders of the horrors he endured in the camps. It also hammers in the fact that Vladek is a survivor and that the Holocaust as it is for all survivors will always be a part of him. Artie is Jewish; however, he is not a Holocaust survivor like his father. Vladek may be in denial or does not realize it, but Artie knows that Vladeks experience as a survivor is a tremendous responsibility. Artie knows he is not fit to tell Vladeks story, he has never met any of the people in Vladeks life and does not have all of the information necessary to authentically depict the scenes Vladek describes. However, that does not change the fact that Arties family was almost wiped off the face of the planet during the Holocaust and he feels an obligation to preserve Vladeks memories out of respect for the suffering he endured and ensure the atrocities of the Holocaust are never forgotten. However, it is also worth noting that Arties first question about his fathers past shows how little he truly knows about him and how fragmented their relationship is. He does not even know how his own parents met. This foreshadows more unrest to come in later chapters. It is also a stark contrast f rom Vladeks life where familial bonds were an integral part of human life, even going so far as to sustain them and kept them alive. Artie is clearly distant from his family and very independent of them. Vladek and Mala are not happy together, but her and Artie seem to get along reasonably well. Artie treats her with respect and ignores Vladek when he tries to speak poorly of her, suggesting that perhaps Mala is not as bad as Vladek says she is. Arties stories about food and the dinner table hint at deep tension and brokenness and unhappiness in his family that everyone present at the table wishes not to address. Both Artie and Vladeks relationships have been fractured by the ruin of the Holocaust and the trauma brought by Anjas suicide. However, they are both selfish and neurotic, and both are too proud to address their shortcomings. The Holocausts effects on Vladek are also present in almost every aspect of his life, especially in his interactions with Artie. It is apparent that even from the beginning of the first novel where Vladek asks Artie to test the sincerity of his friends by locking them together in a room with no food for a week, that the Holocaust has shaped Arties entire life. He finds himself unable to relate to many of his fathers seemingly strange habits and mannerisms. Artie even tells his wife Francoise that he sometimes he could have been in Auschwitz with his family so he could better know what they went through and how it impacted them. Vladek is shown to be controlling and presumptuous by pitching Arties coat. He believes he knows better than Artie and Artie like a young child cannot make his own decisions. Vladek still thinks of Artie as a child despite the fact he is very much grown up. Artie tries to prove himself a man by berating Vladek but he is still forced to accept the hand me down, and like a child, he still has to what Vladek wants, even though it aggravates and that he is an adult. Artie strives to be as honest and upfront about Vladeks shortcomings as he can. He knows that despite all of the admirable qualities Vladek displayed, Vladek is not an uncomplicated, flawless hero and it would do Vladek a disservice to depict him as such. However, an unambiguously positive portrait would serve also allow Artie to vent his frustrations towards Vladek, which often seems to be the case. Artie is also distant from the love and compassion of his Jewish roots that his family displayed during the war even when they had little reason to live or persist living. This disconnect does not enable Artie to relate to what Vladek does or even see the good intent behind his actions although presumptuous. 4.) Vladek grows sick of hiding and wishes to be treated like a human once more. His frustration is justified, but regardless, he displays remarkable recklessness and stubbornness in asserting his decisions. He does not make an effort to understand Anjas anxieties nor does he exhibit any sympathy towards her. In such times of persecution, familial connections and friends were a crucial aspect to Vladek and Anjas survival. Parents, siblings, cousins, and friends all helped one another in any way they could even if they were not close before the war. While he is insensitive and reckless in this particular panel, Vladek still cares deeply for Anja, and Anja even states in a letter in Auschwitz that the fact he is alive is the only thing keeping her from throwing herself into the electric fence. All they had was each other, and Jewishness as Artie knew it became synonymous with survival under these circumstances. Artie is sharing his childhood insecurities with Francoise and how uncertain he was about his relationship with his parents. It also reveals the livings tendency to glorify or valorize the dead. Richieu did indeed die a tragic death, but he was still an ordinary person like Artie. Vladek and Anjas laud of Richieu was indeed a coping mechanism but revering his memory created tension among the living that was almost never resolved. Despite how hard Vladek has supposedly tried to forget about the Holocaust, he can recount the events in extraordinary detail and often cannot help becoming emotional as he relives his memories. He weeps when he remembers four of his friends hung in Sosnowiec and displays profound, parental grief when speaking of Richieu. Vladek displayed love and compassion constantly towards those around him, and that is what makes his memories so painful. Love like it did for so many Jews during the Holocaust, gave their lives meaning when the tyranny of the Nazi regime had taken all other reasons. Because Vladek and Anja loved so profoundly, they consequently hurt and mourn deeply as well. Nevertheless, comparing Artie to the memory of Richieu was unhealthy and contributed to Arties inferiority complex and widened the gap between him and Vladek. This panel portrays a number of different reactions to Vladeks life which perhaps represents how contemporary generations view the Holocaust. Artie remains firm in compartmentalizing his life and Vladeks, keeping them distant from one another. Francoise is sympathetic and tries to be very kind to Vladek in light of what he had to endure. The grocery store manager likely wished to end the conversation early and give Vladek what he wanted and instead of hearing the tales of cruelty and tragedy that Vladek had to endure. Both Artie and Vladek have a duty to share their experiences with the world. Both the survivors and those whose lives were touched by the tragedy have an obligation to share. By sharing, they contribute to the larger narrative of the Holocaust and help generations to come to make sense of the tragedy. Artie wrestles with whether or not it is right for him to share these experiences at all as he was not present and feels it is often not is place. The stories of the living, stories of triumph and overcoming impossible odds are often told, but in doing so, the perspectives of the dead are often forgotten. Artie is afraid he will misinterpret what Vladek tells him and in doing so dishonor the living and the dead. Nevertheless, while he cannot relate to the Holocaust the way that Vladek can, he has been molded by the tragedy, and the legacy of the event transcends generations. The Jewish people as a whole share it. While he is apparently willing to use his past to his advantage, Vladek st ill feels compelled to help Artie create an account worthy of the truth and gives those who cannot speak for themselves a voice. The mask that Artie wears is symbolic of his feeling of falsehood. He does not feel like he is worthy of his identity as a Jew and feels as though the story is not his to tell that he is profiting off the dead. He is unable to disconnect himself from his book, and his book persona has become intertwined with his real self. The dates he names show the passage of time as well as touching upon the thought of life and death and how they are interlocked in regards to the Holocaust. Artie is overwhelmed by the demands of success and his fear of doing the survivors and those who have perished a disservice. His ears and hair are visible from behind the mask he wears. The head of the mouse connects Jews over all nations and generations which suggests Artie feels as though he is a fraud and is hiding his true self. He feels as though he is unlike his parents and other Jews. This shows his anxiety about profiting off of a story that he feels he has no right to tell. The tombstone shows that Vladek and Anja are reunited in death. There is undoubtedly pain and complication that will persist after Vladeks death, but the peaceful grave quells these concerns. This is clearly a tribute to Arties love and forgiveness towards his parents. Artie knows that death does not resolve the relationship between him and his parents, but it is still a sign that Artie has moved forward and that love persists despite the conflict they endured in life. Artie has relinquished his anger and respects their memory peacefully. His story does not have an easy or pleasant ending, but Artie acknowledges the fact that he needs to let go. Arties peaceful release does not placate his wounds and suffering nor does it mend what his parents endured. The significance and depravity of a story such as theirs perhaps has no redemption. The last page shows that Artie must settle for some semblance of a resolution and learn to live with pain and anguish when he is unable to vanquish it himself.